In an unexpected turn, Elijah Adebayo of Luton Town emerges as the highest-ranked Nigerian player in defensive work across 30 leagues worldwide, according to the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post.

Despite playing for relegation-threatened Luton Town in his debut Premier League season, the Fulham academy graduate has made a remarkable impact, netting 10 goals in 25 appearances.

Adebayo’s ranking is based on two key metrics: the distance covered at high speed during defensive phases and the number of pressures exerted on opponents without physical or ball contact. With an index of 79.8, Adebayo stands out in both categories, showcasing his industriousness on the field.

Among players in Europe’s top five leagues – Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 – only Heung-Min Son, Richarlison de Andrade, Moritz Broschinski, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Jonathan David rank higher than Adebayo.

Meanwhile, Cyriel Dessers, the Rangers striker, secures the 32nd spot in the rankings with an index of 74.6, demonstrating his commendable defensive contributions alongside his 21 goals in 51 appearances for the club.

It’s worth noting that only players who have logged at least 1,200 domestic league minutes during the current season were considered for these rankings.